YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Armenia’s goal is to become a member of the European Union–Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian said last Saturday at a reception held on the occasion of the coming into force of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Armenia. He pointed out that this goal still seems unattainable; however–in 1991–when Armenia gained independence–nobody would have believed that the signing of such an agreement between Armenia and the European Union was possible. The minister also reminded those present that the proposal on creating a united Europe in the 1940s–when Europe was destroyed by war and tormented by political disagreemen’s–also seemed unreal.
Armenia is currently a member of two economic structures–the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. Formerly–Armenia did not state its intention to become a member of the European Union.
In his speech–the representative of the European Union to Armenia–Ambassador Denis Corboy stated that the coming into force of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement means that Armenia has become "a member of the European family." Addressing Corboy–Oskanian expressed confidence that two of them will attend the ceremony of Armenia’s admission to the European Union.